Guardianship of a child in Connecticut includes the authority to make major decisions affecting the child’s education, welfare and medical treatment. The process of removing a parent as a child’s guardian, starts with an Application filed in the Probate Court. The Probate Judge usually requests the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to conduct an…
You just had a rear end car accident and never saw it coming. Your vehicle was struck from behind. Thankfully, there are no visible or apparent injuries. Although you are little “shaken up” you otherwise seem ok. Then the over the course of the next few days you really feel it: Dizziness Headaches Numbness or…
In Connecticut, there is a 90-day waiting period to obtain a divorce. There are two primary reasons for the waiting period: 1. Public policy. From a public policy standpoint, the state does not want to make it too easy to get a divorce. At least, not without enough time to reflect on things to make…
This blog is about filing an Answer and Cross Complaint in a Connecticut divorce. A divorce starts with the Plaintiff preparing a Summons, Complaint and Notice of Automatic Orders and serving the Defendant with those documents. Then the Plaintiff provides proof that the Defendant was properly served and pays the filing fee to the Clerk’s…
In Fairfield County Connecticut, if you have been threatened or abused you should request a Restraining Order from the Family Court in Bridgeport or Stamford. Here’s how it works: The person requesting the order of protection (the Applicant) must file an Application along with an Affidavit. The Affidavit must set forth the specific reasons as…
A Connecticut Divorce Return Date is always a Tuesday. The Plaintiff, or the Plaintiff’s attorney, should pick a Tuesday about 4 weeks out to allow the Defendant to be properly served. This also allows the return to be timely filed. The other spouse (the Defendant) must be served with the Summons, Complaint and Notice of…
Connecticut has created a “special” divorce court, which hears lengthy, contested cases involving children. The court is the Middletown Regional Family Trial Docket (RFTD). The RFTD is designed to decide cases quickly and efficiently. One judge is assigned to the case and presides over all aspects of the litigation. Divorce cases and other matters involving…
Sometimes after a divorce, a parent feels that the legal custody (decision-making) or residential custody orders should be changed. Other times, it appears that the visitation or parenting time arrangements are no longer in their child’s best interest. In other words, the Parenting Plan is not working. When this happens, a Modification of a Parenting…
Most divorce lawyers in Connecticut bill by the hour. Clients usually pay a retainer, which the attorney deposits in a Trustee account. The attorney maintains an accounting of their time as services are performed. Then the attorney withdraws funds from the Trustee account for the legal fees they earned. It sort of works like a…
A Connecticut drunk driving car accident happens far too often. Injuries caused by a drunk driver are senseless. These incidents have long-lasting and unfortunate consequences. And to think it could have so easily been avoided. Hail a cab. Phone a friend. Take a walk. Or of course, not drinking at all. According to a recent…